Back in 1912, Glenn Mead succeeded Paul Harris as founding President of Rotary International. He recommended a code of business ethics be formulated to contribute to the advancement of business morality. At that time, there were no consumer protection laws, or truth-in-advertising statutes. Fraudulent and deceptive business practices were the norm. The unwritten law was caveat emptor, “Let the buyer beware.” Since the adoption of the Rotary Code of Ethics in 1915, at least 145 national industrial codes of conduct practice have been adopted as a direct result of the influence of Rotary.

 

The Four-Way Test
Rotary’s current code of ethical conduct – The Four-Way Test – was developed during the Great Depression, by a Rotarian, Herb Taylor, from the United States, as a four-part ethical guideline that helped him rescue a beleaguered business. The code’s four points are simple and direct – “Of all the things we think, say or do:

We stand for truth 
We are honest, transparent and authentic in everything we do. We value integrity and accountability, recognising that trust is the foundation of meaningful change.

We act with fairness

We strive to treat everyone with respect, equity and compassion. Every decision we make considers the wellbeing and inclusion of all those involved.

We build goodwill and better friendships 
We believe that genuine connection is at the heart of Rotaract. Through collaboration, empathy and kindness, we strengthen our community and create spaces where everyone feels they belong.

We seek benefits for all
We aim for positive, lasting impact - in our clubs, our communities and ourselves. Our actions are guided by a desire to uplift others and contribute to a better, fairer world.

The Four-Way Test was officially adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into the languages of over 100 countries. It appears on highway billboards, in schoolrooms and on the walls of businesses, in labour contracts, courtrooms and halls of government. It’s even on the moon, in the form of a Four-Way Test pin planted on the surface by an astronaut.

 

If you have a business, business skills or a strong link to the community that will help Rotary make a stronger impact in Oswestry, please step forward and help us. Please contact us.